Volleyball Canada announces 2010 national men’s team

OTTAWA – Dallas Soonias of Red Deer, Alta., Adam Simac of Ottawa and Louis-Pierre Mainville of Notre-Dame de l’Isle, Que., are among several returning players named to the men’s senior national team today by Volleyball Canada.

The Canadians launch their international season early next week at the Pan American Cup in Puerto Rico. They will also travel to Australiain June, play exhibition matches against Cubain Canadalater summer before heading to Europeto finalize preparations for the world championships this September in Italy.

Fifth-year Canadian national team coach Glenn Hoag named 19 players to the senior squad the majority of whom spent this past winter playing professionally overseas. They include Soonias who was a star player in Almeria Spain as well as Dan Lewis of Oakville, Ont., who helped Bled, Slovenia to a best-ever fourth place in the Champions League, a team coached by Hoag.

Josh Howatson of Victoriareturns after missing the last couple of years due to injury. Howatson was named the tournament MVP as he and Soonias helped Almeriato the Spanish League crown. Jeremy Wilcox of Calgary, a member of Canada’s 2007 Pan Am Games team, is also back on the senior squad.